Hay-press.



No. 771,576. PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904.

J. E. SANDERS. 4

HAY PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED DEU.19. 1902.

N0 MODEL, 2 SHEETS-,SHEET l.

PATENTED OCT. 4, 1904.

J. E. SANDERS.

HAY PRESS.

APPLIGATION FILED 30.19, 1902.

, No MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. y, .Affmzeys Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. SANDERS, OF DALTON, GEORGIA.

HAY-PRESS.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 771,576, dated October4, 1904'. Application led December 19, 1902. Serial No. 135,933. (Nomodel.)

To (all whom, it m/cty concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES E. SANDERS, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Dalton, in-

the county of Vhitiield and State of Georgia, have invented a new anduseful Hay-Press, of which the following' is a specification.

This invention relates to hay-presses; and it has for its object toprovide a device of this class which shall possess superior advantagesin point of simplicity, durability, and general eiiiciency.

The invention has special reference to the improved means for operatingthe plunger, said means being composed of toggle-levers operated by theapplication of horse-power in suoli a manner that the full benefit shallbe derived from the power exerted.

The invention further has reference to an improved construction of theplunger whereby the material fed into the hopper shall be subjected to adegree of preliminary pressure prior to its final compression in thepress-box proper.

rllhe invention further relates to an improved arrangement anddisposition of the means for contracting the throat or discharge end ofthe press-box in order to create sufficient frictional resistance uponthe bale that is being ejected to retard the progression of the balethat is being formed.

With these and other ends in view the invention consists in the improvedconstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will behereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings', Figure' 1 is a side elevation of ahay-press constructed in accordance with the principles of theinvention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectionalelevation of a portion of the device, including a feed-hopper, the frontend of the press-box, the toggle-levers, the plunger operated thereby,and adjacent parts. Fig. L is a perspective detail view of the plunger.Fig. 5 is a det-ail rear elevation of the press-box, showing the meansfor contracting the discharge end of the same. Fig. 6 is a sectionaldetail view taken on the line 6 6 in Fig. l.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similarcharacters of reference.

The press-box 1 of the device is in the main of ordinary constructionand may be supported upon transporting-wheels 2. The front endof thepress-box supports the feed-hopper 3, which is open at its lower frontend, as shown at 4L. r1`he sides of the press-box are extended forwardlybeyond the feed-hopper to form the brackets 5, having downwardextensions 6, whereby they are connected with and supported upon thebase-frame 7, which is extended a suitable distance in. a forwarddirection to afford ample room for the sweep 8 of the horse-power.

rl`he horse-power of the device is of cxtremely simple construction,comprising preliininarily a base-plate 9, which is supported upon and atthe same time serves to connect the outer ends of the beams constitutingthe base-frame 7. The plate 9 is provided with a centrally-disposedupwardly-extending spindle 10, upon which two clutch members 11 and 12are mounted revolubly in such amanner as to engage each other, as shown.The lower clutch member 11 is provided with a radially-extendingarm14:,which may be formed integrally with or firmly securedthereto. Theupper clutch member 12 is provided with a cross-head 15, the arms ofwhich, 16 and 17, are provided with mortises 18, in whichantifriction-rollers 19 are journaled. The arm 18 is additionallyprovided with a perforation 2() for the reception of one end of abrace-rod 2l, which connects the said arm with the outer end of thesweep 22, which latter is seated in a recess 23, formed between twovertical iianges 24 upon the upper side of the crosshead, to whichlatter the said sweep is firmly secured by means of bolts or othersuitable fastening means.

25 designates a curved approximately segmental plate which is securedupon or connected with the base-plate 9 and which extends upwardly to asuitable height, its upper edge being beveled to form a cam 26, lying inthe path of the friction-rollers 18, journaled in the arms of thecross-head. lt will be seen that when power is applied to the sleeve theupperclutch member 12 will be rotated in the direction of the dart inFig. 2, thus carrying with it the lower clutch member l1,with which itis normally in engagement. When either of the arms 16 or 17 reaches thecam 26, the roller 19, journaled in such arm, will pass into engagementwith the cam 26, thus elevating the upper clutch member upon the spindle10 and raising' it out of engagement with the lower clutch member, whichbeing thus released rebounds by the action upon the arm 14 ofintermediate mechanism, which will be hereinafter described. As soon asthe friction-roller 18 passes out of engagement with the cam 26 theweight of the upper clutch member and that ofthe cross-head and sweepsupported thereon will restore said upper clutch member to its normalposition in engagement with the lower clutch member, and thc operationwill be immediately repeated, with the sole exception that on therepetition it will be the friction-roller of the opposite arm of thecross-head that passes into engagement with the cam. Obviously byincreasing the number of arms upon the cross-head the operation might berepeated three or more times to each revolution of the cross-head.

lt may at times be desired to disengage the clutch members ll and l2from each other for the purpose of temporarily suspending the operationof the press. This may be accomplished by means of a tripping devicecomprising a ring A, mounted to slide vertically upon the saidcylindrical clutch members 11 and l2 and mounted upon pins or rods B,that extend through the base-plate 9. Mounted in suitable bearings belowthe said base-plate are two rock-shafts C and D, having crank-arms E andF, that are connected, by means of links G, with the lower ends of therods B, so that y when the said rock-shafts are oscillated in theirbearings they will operate to elevate the ring A until the latter byengaging' the frictionrollers 19 will elevate the cross-head 15 andupper clutch member 12 until the latter is disengaged from the clutchmember 11. It will be seen that when the ring A is thus elevated therotation of the upper clutch member, with its related parts, may becontinued indefinitely without imparting motion to the working parts ofthe press.

The rock-shafts C and D are operated by means of a foot-lever H, mountedupon the press-box in rear of the hopper 3, said footlever beingattached to the center of a shaft I, extending' transversely across thetop of the press-box. The shaft I is provided at one end with a shortarm or crank K, connected by a rod L with the horizontal arm M of abell-crank lever fulcrumed at N, the vertical arm O of said bell-cranklever being connected, by means of a jointed rod P, with arms Q, at'theends of the rock-shafts C and D. The jointed rod P is supported at ,thejoint thereof by means of a pivoted brace R.

A short ratchet-bar S is mounted upon the press-box to engage thefoot-lever when the latter is depressed for the purpose of locking it inposition, and thus retaining the ring A indefinitely in a raisedposition.

A spring T is suitably disposed under the outer end of the foot-lever toelevate the latter when released from the pressure of the foot of theoperator. The utility of this device will be readily understood,inasmuch as by the use thereof the working of the press may be suspendedat any time without stopping the team-such as, for instance, in case ofaccident to one of the operators or breakage of any part of the press.In caseA the team should become unruly it will likewise be found ofgreat advantage.

The plunger of the improvedl hay-press is constructed, preferably, of amassive castiron head 27, the sides of which are provided with recesses28 to enable the said head to pass the retaining-springs in the interiorof the press-box, which, however, being commonly found in hay-presses ofordinary construction have not been illustrated in the drawings.Extending forwardly from the lower corners of the head 27 are theguidebeams 29, and a top plate 30 likewise extends forwardly from theupper edges of the head 27 This top plate is provided with acentrally-disposed slot 3l, extending through the greater part of itslength, and at each side of said slot is disposed an upwardly-extendingblock 32, said blocks being connected by braces 33 with the front end ofthe top plate 30. Braces 34 likewise connect the front end of the topplate 30 with the rear ends of the guide-beams 29 at the points wherethe latter join the head 27.

The rearward portion of the top plate 30 is provided with a horizontalrecess 35 for the reception of the hinged plate 36, having at its rearedge a downward-extending lip 37,

the inner edge of which is beveled, as at 38, to

engage the correspondinglybeveled upper edge 39 of the head 27. Thishinged plate is normally supported upon springs 40, which rest uponbrackets 41, extending rearwardly from the block 27, said springs beingextended through openings 42 in the top plate 30. It will be seen thatby this means the free end of the hinged plate 36 is normally held at aposition slightly raised above the upper level of the plunger, while atthe same time the depending lip 37 extends below and in rear of theupper part of the beveled portion 38 of the head 27. At no time shouldthe free end of the plate 36 be raised to such an extent as to interferewith the passage of the plunger into the press-box proper. At the timewhen the entrance takes place the IOO IIS

hinged plate 36 performs the'function of a tucker to force the loosematerial from the feed-hopper into the press-box without danger ofclogging or interference with the operation.

The head 27 of the plunger is provided on its front side near its loweredge with a transversely-perforated lug 43 to receive a bolt 44 or othersuitable means for connecting it pivotally with one of the toggles 45.Another toggle, 46, is pivoted to the frame of the press at 47, and thetwo are connected pivotally with each other by means of a pin 48, whichalso carries a pulley 49.

50 is the draft-rope, which is securely connected to the frame at 51,passing thence over the pulley 49, under another pulley, 52, which isjournaled in a suitable bracket 53 underneath the press-frame, andthence to the end of the arm 14 of the clutch vmember 11, to which it ismade securely fast, a guide-pulley 54 being interposed, so as to guidethe draft in the right direction. It is obvious that any other suitableconnecting means may be substituted fora rope, and such connecting meansmay be liexible throughout or. only the portions of the -same that inpractice engage the various pulleys.

At its discharge end the press-box is provided with flexible side boards56, which may` be compressed inwardly, so as to retard the progress ofthe bale which is being expelled, and thus cause suiiicient frictionalresistance to enable the next bale to be sufliciently compressed. 'Iheend frame-pieces 57 and 58 are extended beyond the sides of thepress-box, as shown, and the upper end pieces carry a pair of links 59,supporting levers 60, the inner ends of which are provided witheccentrically-disposed hooks 61, which are connected by links 62 withthe bottom frame-piece 58. The latter also is provided with a pair ofpivoted links 63, engaging notches or ratchets 64 inthe levers 60. Itwill be seen that by this construction the levers 60, being fulcrumedupon the supporting-links 59 when depressed, will bear with theireccentricallyhooked ends 61 against the iiexible side boards 56, forcingthe latter inwardly, the said levers being retained in such depressedposition by means of the links 63 engaging the notches .64 in thelevers. By this mechanism the pressure upon the flexible side boards 56may be easily and quickly regulated and adjusted in the manner and forthe purpose indicated.

rlhe operation and advantages of this invention will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing description taken in connection with thedrawings hereto annexed. The construction is simple and inexpensive, andprovision has been made whereby the machine may be operated very rapidlyand with good results. In the accompanying drawings means have beenshown whereby the plunger is made to operate twice to each revolution ofthe horse-power; but, as stated, the cross-head of the said horse-powermay be readily altered, so that any desired number of operations of theplunger may be accomplished to each revolution of the horse-power.

Other changes and modifications may be made such as will readily suggestthemselves to 'those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, and I desire it to be understood that I reserve the right toany changes and modifications which may be resorted to withoutdetracting from the utility of my invention or departing from the spiritand scope thereof.

Having thus described my invention,I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States- 1. In adevice of the classdescribed, apressbox, the feed-hopper provided with an opening in thefront thereof, a plunger having an elongated top plate provided withalongitudinal slot, toggle members having pivotal connection with eachother and respectively with the pressframe and the plunger, the lattermember being accommodated in the longitudinal slot of said plunger, andbraced blocks disposed upon the top plate on either side of the slottherein and adapted to enter the feed-hopper through the opening in thefront thereof and exert preliminary pressure upon the contents of saidfeed-hopper.

2. The herein-described plungercomprising a head-plate, guide beamsextending rearwardly from the lower corners thereof, a top plateextending rearwardly from the upper edge of said head-plate, atucker-plate having hinge connection with the said top plate, bracketsextending rearwardly from the headplate, and springs supported upon saidbrackets, extending' through openings in the top plate and supportingthe tucker-plate.

3. In a hay-press, the press-box having flexible side boards,the upperand lower frame members arranged at the discharge end of the press boxand extended beyond the sides thereof, links supported upon the ends ofthe upper frame member, levers supported by said links and havingeccentric hooked members and notched handle members, links connectingsaid hooked members with the lower frame member, and links pivotallyconnected with the latter and engaging the'notched handle members of thelevers.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES E. SANDERS.

Witnesses:

LUCY ROBERTS, D. K. MOKAMY.

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